Is TLC Making Fun of the Duggar Family?

Joshua, the oldest son of the Duggars (17 Kids and Counting, Mondays on TLC) and his girlfriend Anna were featured on Monday's episode of 17 Kids and Counting. The show featured the couple's engagement and then went on to discuss the Duggar family's views on dating and courtship.

It was a sweet episode - full of a grinning Joshua and radiant Anna. They couldn't stop smiling and saying, "I love you" in that goofy newly-in-love voice. They never kissed, though, because they are saving that for their wedding day. Obviously that's pretty unheard of and most people probably think they are crazy. TLC interviewed many of the Duggar children and Jim Bob and Michelle to ask why they thought it was best to wait until marriage to have sex, and even to kiss. They all gave honest answers and they truly seemed to believe it's best to save those special moments for the right person.

To be honest, I love the idea of courtship - pursuing a relationship only with someone you think you might actually marry instead of dating around - and I believe that abstinence is best because your virginity is something you can never get back and you don't want to give it to just anyone. I think that waiting until your wedding to have your first kiss might be a little extreme, but to each his own, right?

The issue that I had with this episode was that it seemed like TLC (or whoever is in charge of creating the show) was making fun of them without actually saying anything. When they were interviewing the oldest daughter about whether she might wait until she was married to have her first kiss, she said that yes, she was also planning to wait. Then they put up a really goofy shining graphic over her face with "Hallelujah Chorus" type music playing in the background - possibly to show that no one will be touching her lips anytime soon?